The Greeks and Romans are most known for the Classical Civilization Art. The Greeks were inspired by the world around them. They took things in nature and incorporated them into their pottery, jewelry, columns, art and architecture.
The Greeks did not worship Jehovah God, but instead created their own gods and goddesses best known from Greek Mythology.
For the Classical Art period, Paul would encounter the Greeks in his travels of Greece to spread the Gospel that Jesus Christ is Lord.
On the Italian peninsula, the Etruscans were greatly influenced by the Greek’s Art, but they wanted their own style by adding more vibrant colors to their art. Portraiture became popular among the influential and richer people.
The Roman artist painted and created sculptures to be more realistic rather than the favored fantasy of the Greeks. Jesus would have walked past the mosaics on walls, seen the reliefs, frescoes and sculptures representing Greek and Roman gods.
The very temple where Jesus was speaking at the age of 12 and where the Jews worship God was even a Roman work in architecture
How must Jesus have felt walking through the city seeing Art used in a way that did not glorify the Creator.
Later as the Roman grew in strength they would subdue the Greeks and become a world empire that affected every nation. The Romans were not only inspired by Greek Art, but also copied it in many instances. What they didn’t copy, they added their own level of realistic style that has inspired countries around the world.